Banning the Burqa: Overview : SBS Insight

Overview

The French Senate has voted to ban the burqa in public places.

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Similar laws are being considered in Belgium, Spain and Italy.

President Sarkozy said in Parliament "We cannot accept that in our country some women will be imprisoned behind a fence cut off from all social life, deprived of identity. This is not a principle that the French republic has about women's dignity."

In Australia, a recent decision by a judge to have a witness remove her face veil has sparked controversy and recent polls show that the majority of Australians support a ban.

But what exactly is driving the ban?

Meet the Guests

Jacques Myard

Jacques Myard is a member of France’s ruling UMP party. On September 14 the French Senate passed a bill banning Islamic face veils in public. Jacques Myard initiated a proposal to ban the burqa two years ago. He believes these types of Islamic headwear go against the values of the French Republic.

Tariq Ramadan

Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University, England. He believes banning the burqa is counterproductive and will force women to stay indoors. He has condemned the recent ban in France.

Cory Bernardi

The Liberal Senator believes that the burqa has no place in Australian society because it represses women but his primary concern is that the wearing of it is a security issue.

Amina Ghafoor

22 year old Amina (pictured here with her husband Ahmed Saghir) has been wearing the burqa for more than a year. It was her choice to wear it and she feels banning the burqa will oppress other Muslim women as they'll lose their right to choose.